Thursday, October 31, 2013

Halloween Superstitutions of Olde

• Many people used to consider that owls would dive down to eat the
souls of the dying on Halloween. They believed that if you pulled your
own pockets out, and left them hanging, the dying would be safe. (Good
to know, especially the next time you get caught with your pockets
hanging out from the dryer!)

• To ward off evil spirits
on Halloween, bury all the animal bones in your front yard, or even put
a picture of an animal very close to your doorway. (I'll assume they
mean collected wishbones and leftovers from Thanksgiving for the
burials, and not those of anyone else, for the photos.)

•
People used to believe you could walk around your house three times
backwards before sunset on Halloween, and that would take care of all
evil. (Next time you can't find the kids for dinner, remember you're
keeping your family safe at the same time.)

• It has
been said if a bat flies into your house on Halloween, it is a sign that
ghosts or spirits are very nearer, and maybe they are in your home and
let the bat in. (Living in the country, I've had bats in my house on
several occasions. My friends claim they live in my own 'belfry', as
well.)

• People used to believe that if bats are out
early on Halloween, and they fly around playfully, then good weather is
to come. (The bats in my belfry are beyond playful. I've been known to
be borderline manic.)

• If a bat flies around your
house three times on Halloween, death is very soon to come. (Doesn't
this negate the good luck of the above?)

• It could be
the spirit of a dead loved one watching you, if you watch a spider on
Halloween. (And if you're watching, do so respectfully, and don't squish
them!)

• Going in for what was once called a 'dumb'
supper, meaning that nobody will talk while having supper, encourages
the spirits to come to the table. (Well, not only is that term
antiquated and not p.c., most families today with teenagers suffer from
this predicament, so it's no wonder that most teenagers appear
possessed.)

• It is believed that if an unmarried girl
keeps a rosemary herb and a silver sixpence under her pillow on
Halloween night, it is quite likely that on that very night, she would
dream of her future husband. (If you have young daughter's, check their
pillows tonight and remove those sixpence.)

• It is
said that if you hear someone's footsteps behind you on the Halloween
night, you should not turn back because it may be a dead following you.
And if you commit the mistake of looking back, it is likely that you
might join the dead very soon. (You just can't win on this one. I'm
staying home and wearing ear plugs.)

• People believe
that if on the Halloween night, a girl carrying a lamp in her hand goes
to a spring of water, she will see the reflection of her life partner in
water. (This sounds dangerous to me, especially if you believe in the
superstition just above, and the one following you is already dead. Sure
wouldn't want him for my life partner.)

• People have a
superstition that if an unmarried girl carries a broken egg in a glass
and takes it to a spring of water, she will be able to catch the glimpse
of not just her future husband, by mixing some spring water in the
glass, but also she can see the reflection of her future kids.
(OK, this is just too much. Now we are being followed by the dead, stuck with them for life and sharing common ghouls.)

•
There is the old saying that "black cats are bad luck". It was once
believed that black cats were the devil, or consumed by evil spirits. (I 've had several black cats, I loved them dearly, they slept with me every night. Time for an exorcism.
Now, do I exorcise all black cats or just me?)

• People used to
believe that Satan was a nut-gatherer. Nuts were also used as magic
charms on the day of Halloween festival. (At this point, I'm feeling
nutty. I think the exorcism has to be on me.)

• If you
put your clothes on inside out as well as outside walk backwards on
Halloween night. At midnight you will see a witch in the sky. People
used to believe witches were the devil, or that they were consumed by
evil. (I've been known to do both, on a fairly consistent basis. No
wonder I run into so many witchy people and was gifted with a sign that says "If the broom fits, ride it"! It fit and I do.

• There is
also an old saying "if the flame on your candle goes out on Halloween
celebration; it gives you the meaning that you are with a ghost".
(Stocking up on matches, lighters, and battery powered lanterns)

• If you ring a bell on Halloween it will frighten evil spirits away. (Ding!)

shown above:
One of my favorite photos of myself. And yes, I do sit around doing magic and creating magical potions for Halloween. No need to be afraid! I'm from the light side, not the dark. I just have to work in the dark a lot, to help others ;-) Join my wilde ride and become a follower of this blog ;-)